And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” [Luke 22:19-12 (ESV)]
Today is Maundy (or Holy) Thursday—the day many Christians throughout the world will observe the institution of the Lord’s Supper/Eucharist/Holy Communion by coming to the Lord’s table. Regardless of what you call this sacrament, Jesus’ mention of a “new covenant” probably will be part of your service. Not a word commonly used today, what is a covenant and how does it differ from a contract?
Both covenants and contracts are binding agreements but, in a contract, the parties negotiate from fairly equal bargaining positions and are free not to sign. Although both parties are expected to abide by its terms, a contract has contingencies. If either party fails to hold up their end of the bargain, the contract is null and void and the relationship ends.
A covenant, however, is not between equals. With no negotiation, it is more like an agreement between the conquering king and the conquered people! While contracts can be amended, covenants are unalterable. In a covenant, the parties agree to hold up their end of the deal even if the other party doesn’t. While a failure on one side or the other will yield consequences, it will not negate the relationship. In Scripture we find covenants between God and Adam, Abraham, Moses, Noah, and David. In them, God promised to provide, protect, and bless his people while they promised to trust and obey him and repent when they didn’t.
God’s standard is perfection but, regardless of how hard we try, we can’t be perfect. As we know from the Old Testament, the people repeatedly failed to keep their promises. In a contractual relationship, that failure would have ended their relationship with God. Fortunately, it was a covenant relationship and, while the Israelites incurred God’s judgment for their disobedience, they never were abandoned. The Hebrew Scriptures promised a new covenant in God’s words to Jeremiah—a covenant uniting God with His people—a covenant of grace in which God fulfilled both sides of the agreement.
When Jesus blessed the bread and wine in that upper room in Jerusalem some 2,000 years ago, a new covenant with God began. Jesus did not negate the law. There was nothing wrong with the law; the problem was with the people who couldn’t abide by it. In the old covenant, people were told what to do (and not to do) to get right with God but, in the new covenant, the getting right with God was done for us by Jesus.
The old covenant required the blood of animals and yearly atonement; the new covenant is for eternity and was satisfied with the sacrifice of God’s only Son. The old covenant was one of the law and works but the new one is one of grace and faith. Instead of the law being written on tablets, it is written on our hearts. The old covenant was signified by circumcision but the new covenant is shown by a change of heart. The old covenant found God in the Temple in Jerusalem but the new finds Him in the temple of the Spirit. The old covenant was one of bondage and the new is one of liberty. The old covenant was established on Mt. Sinai for Israel alone; the new was established on the cross and is for all mankind. It was with Jesus that the old covenant ended and it was with Him that the new covenant began. What was the Last Supper of the old covenant became the First Supper of the new one!
Devotions of the Heart 